Day 1 - October 5, 2010


In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves bauutifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists. Eric Hoffer

This is a story about the big public conversation the nation is not having about education... whether an entire generation of kids will fail to make the grade in the global economy because they can't think their way through abstract problems, work in teams, distinguish good information from bad, or speak a language other than English. Time magazine, Dec. 16, 2006.

Sam Saper - Board member at Full Sail University. http://www.fullsail.edu

www.scribd.com

Lynne Herr from ESU 6 mentioned the idea of transitioning your classroom from a "hand it in" classroom to a "publish it" classroom. That idea was discovered on a blog called The Innovative Educator, and you'll find 6 examples of assignments. Note there is one for FCS, in addition to reading, writing, math, etc.

Book Recommendations
Wikinomics
Disrupting Class
The World is Flat
The World is Open by Curtis J. Bonk
If You're Riding a Horse and it Dies, Get Off by Jim Grant

http://ali.apple.com/acot2/program.shtml: Apple's Classrooms of Tomorrow

Arnold's Schoolhouse Graphics Company

Learning Places
Campfire:
Formal learning environments; I’m the expert, etc.
Watering Hole:
Informal learning space; discussions
Cave:
Individual learning space; reflect and create meaning.
Mountain Top:
Present and publish; demonstrated understanding and mastery.
Access, collaborate, create and distribute.
· Access: Campfire
· Collaborate: Watering Hole
· Create: Cave
· Distribute: Mountain Top



Day 2 - October 6, 2010


Opening: Think BIG, Think BOLD, Think DIFFERENT: Sir Ken Robinson Video

www.ted.com
"Creativity, in education, is just as important as literacy."
"If you're not prepared to be wrong, you will never create anything original."

www.flickr.com photo sharing website
http://www.flickr.com/photos/coreydahl/
Corey shared the pictures that he took last night. He demonstrated the difference between various light and timing settings. Corey used a tripod for his pictures.

Katie Morrow - O'Neill Public Schools, www.mrsmorrow.com, mrsmorrow@me.com

Challenge Based Learning
iChat Theater mode for presentation
Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow: ACOT (1985-1997): what happens to students and teachers when they have access to technology whenever they need it?
ACOT 2: How can we make this happen NOW?
3 Stages:
  1. Defining what a 21st century school looks like.
  2. 6 Design principles of 21st Century School:
    1. 21st Century Skills and Outcomes
    2. Curriculum is Relevant and Applies
    3. Assessments need to Inform us
    4. Culture of Creativity and Interaction
    5. Social/Emotional Connection with Every Student
    6. 24/7 Access to Tools and Resources
  3. Implementation: how to turn this into a curriculum that any teacher can use in their classroom tomorrow.
Challengebasedlearning.org

Essential Elements

  • real-world topic (relevance)
  • actionable challenges
  • students asking good questions
  • students collaborating on teams
  • teachers as co-collaborator
  • leverage existing technologies

Process/Framework:

  1. big ideas
  2. essential question
  3. challenge (actionable statement)
    • guiding questions
    • guiding activities
    • guiding resources
  4. solutions
  5. publishing
  6. process/product: what did students learn along the way?

Challenge Examples:

  1. reducing school's paper waste
  2. increasing recycling in community
  3. improve online behaviors of youth in community
  4. tell the story of war
  5. cultural shift: disprove a misconception about your generation
  6. make your town more energy efficient

Schools can join other CBL Projects already in place


O'Neill is a 1-to-1 school (7-12); the challenge was to take it to the next level; CBL has allowed this to happen. The district has 800 students (2 buildings).
Staff Training: started with 3 teachers and a student. It has grown through a grass roots approach. It is still growing and evolving. Sometimes it is 'just in time' learning. The administration has been supportive, but has not pushed. Some projects are small, some are bigger and require more time, but all are important and effective.

CBL is a philosophy of learning, not a recipe for learning.

MYTHS:

  • CBL is the same as PBL
  • it doesn't fit my content/standards
  • it's not scalable (Home Depot)
  • too much work/too much change (it's good for us to be pushed)
  • there is never enough time
  • the teacher isn't needed
  • CBL cannot be assessed: http://tinyurl.com/cblonitunesu

Call to Action: "It's not enough just to talk about the big problems of today . . . inspire action and empower learners to promote change."
"A clear explanation of the problem engages the mind. The solution will engage the imagination. But a compelling reason will engage the heart." Visioneering by Andy Stanley

Making Connections: Jacque Havice and Jodi DeArmond

Creating, Communicating, Collaborating
Social Media Class (new):
  • blogging, word clouds (wordle)
  • websites
  • social networking (Facebook)
  • social bookmarking (diigo)
  • avatars
  • how they can be used correctly in school, personally, and in business

  • free projects (can't compete with local business)
  • School District Website students use iWeb software and get information from teachers/coaches for individual web pages

socialmedia3o.blogspot.com (tools highlighted)
samanthasocialmedia.blogspot.com (student example)

In-house Training capstone class for Business pathway (50% community, 50% school projects)
Irish Ink: school business/class that publishes all documents used at school and in the community; profit is used to replace equipment as well as provide scholarships
  • student of the month posters
  • graduation invitations
  • holidays homes tour
  • logo designs, flyers, letterheads for local business
  • church directory
  • BN Excellent certificates
  • Hospital Glitz invitations, programs

Other School Businesses (that work together)
  • Fighting Irish Photography
  • Video Production Studio CHN (Chapman High News)

Journalism Class: school website: http://www.chapmanirish.net/

So what? Conversation

  • How do we ask teachers who are already "swamped" to do something additional without having them feel overwhelmed?
    An administrative "mandate for all teachers" is not a desirable outcome either.
  • Picking a small project first - making it a 'real connection' for students.
  • Identifying the Essential Question/s is/are important

Mark - "Failure"

This was mentioned in every session over the past 2 days - Failure